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Publisher's Summary

Adapted For The Film Slumdog Millionaire.

Eighteen-year-old Ram Mohammad Thomas has been arrested after answering twelve questions correctly on a TV quiz show to win one billion rupees. The producers have accused him of cheating his way to victory. Twelve extraordinary events in street-kid Ram's life - how he was adopted as a foundling orphan by a priest; came to have three names; fooled a professional hit man; even fell in love - give him the crucial answers.

In his warm-hearted tale lies all the comedy, tragedy, joy and pathos of modern India.

The movie was clearly adapted to foreign audiences while the book is clearly Indian. The concept remains the same, but the story and questions are different, so it makes for a very nice variation from what most of the us saw on screen.

Would you consider the audio edition of Q & A (filmed as Slumdog Millionaire) to be better than the print version?

Sorry, cannot comment.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This question doesn't really have relevance for this book, because it is only about one main character.

What about Christopher Simpson’s performance did you like?

Great. I loved it for the unpretentiousness of the voice. Realistic to the person he was depicting. And good range of accents between characters, so we could identify who was speaking in a dialogue.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laugh yes, many times. Many great quotes and one liners. Like

Any additional comments?

This was the best of the audiobooks I have listened to. The author has a wonderful sense of storytelling and found a great format for telling 12 really fantastic stories, then did beautiful work weaving them together. Thank you, sir, for the enjoyment I had listening to these stories of Indian life (even if a few might be a little fabricated).

I've never seen the movie, so the sory was new to me. And it's an engaging story. There is so much going on that you actually want to keep listening in your car after you have arrived on your destination. Masterfully narrated too.

A great story with great narration, enjoyed it alot, I especially loved the ending, I got the book because I heard my friends talk about the movie, I didn't watch the movie myself but I'd bet the book is way better...

Hadn't seen the movie so had no idea what to expect. It was exceptionally well read - with various authentic accents. The teasing nature of the storyline keeps you wanting to know more about his journey. It's books like this that keep me addicted to audible.com.

I can't believe how much I liked this book. I haven't had much success with modern bestsellers, although I loved 'Life of Pi' and 'The God of Small Things' which are mainly set in India. Aside from those, I tend to stick to classic authors and whodunnit mysteries, but I took a chance and bought this one. It's wonderful. Brilliant. Colourful, real characters, brought distinctly to life by the amazing narrative voice, perfect pacing, it did everything perfectly.

Ram Mohammed Thomas is an orphan who has won the top prize of a billion rupees in the Indian version of the "Who wants to be a millionaire" TV quiz. He has been arrested by the police on suspicion of cheating, and the book relates his life story, not necessarily in linear order, so we understand how he came to know the answers to the questions.

The story isn't the same as in the film, and even the motive behind his appearance on the show is different. It doesn't matter. Even if you didn't like the film, you should read the book - it was really one of the best books I've ever read in any format.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Mme Josephine Lejard

Cauroy les Hermonville France

7/2/09

Overall

"Better than the film ......if possible"

I saw a bad pirate copy of the film and was only half convinced about the book.....until I started listening.
What a good listen, well read, superb story, and for the price... Excellent value.
I challenge anyone to say they did not enjoy it. I have already loaned the book to two others!

For me..better than the film!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Wybrand

JohannesburgSouth Africa

6/28/09

Overall

"Excellent listen!"

What a great story told by an even better narrator.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

MarieLouise

Gloucestershire, United Kingdom

7/23/09

Overall

"narrator amazing, story brilliant"

One of the best narrators I've heard - able to switch between accents smoothly and do them all so well. The story itself is magical. Now look forward to the film version.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Katharine

watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

6/28/10

Overall

"excellent"

I listen to this book over a year ago and it is the most engaging story I have listened to. I listened to the story before I saw the film, which was quite different. Very disturbing at times,and some parts were very difficult to listen to. The narration captured the drama and beauty of the story and I was lost in imagination. The story was exiting and I was gripped.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Tintin

7/7/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"An indian fairy tale"

If you could sum up Q & A (filmed as Slumdog Millionaire) in three words, what would they be?

Funny, shocking and inspiring

What other book might you compare Q & A (filmed as Slumdog Millionaire) to, and why?

I've never read or heard anything quite like this.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

This was different to the film but had the same spirit and amazing cast of characters.

Any additional comments?

If you've seen the film and loved it you should try to listen to the story it is similar but there are many parts that are different and very entertaining. Do listen to this. It isnt what you expect -highly recommended

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Sally

HALIFAX, United Kingdom

1/20/13

Overall

"Forget the film - the book's ten times better!"

Like a lot of cinema-goers I loved the film 'Slumdog Millionaire', but I had heard a bit of the narration of the story 'Q & A' on radio 4 and had the idea that the book would probably yield more rewards.How right I was!The narration was skilled and fitted the story perfectly. I cannot recommend this book enough, a real feel-good story .The plot was far more involved and interesting, and left me with a huge smile on my face.

The backdrop reflects the abject poverty facing an orphan child in India. It does not flich from showing us a number of possible unbearable scenarios. The chasm between rich and poor is made depressingly clear. While the plot twist of poor boy makes good could have emerged as a deus ex machina, leaving the reader with a sugary, sickly taste in the mouth, this book avoids any such feeling by simply promoting the message 'do as you would be done by.' In real life, perhaps, karma never quite works as quickly as it does in fiction, but we all need the hope this book inspires.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Hortenzia

LuxembourgLuxembourg

4/16/11

Overall

"Excellent book, stupid movie"

I read the book first, then watched the movie. I couldn't believe how they could massacre the book that way in the movie! The book is infinitely superior to the movie, it made me laugh (a little) and cry (more) and want to know more about India and help somehow. It's very well written indeed, I listened late into the night to finish it, I couldn't put it down. Forget about the movie! Read the book instead!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

B. Cashin

11/17/10

Overall

"Hugely enjoyable"

Without doubt, this is the book I have most enjoyed LISTENING to since signing up with audible. It is superbly read. The book is pretty good too ;-)

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

jesjaspers

Suffolk, UK

10/25/09

Overall

"Forget the film - listen to this..."

...it is quite simply THE best audio rendition of a book that I have ever listen to!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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